THAILAND: The Special Problem - Strategy Page

February 2, 2013: The government is refusing international pressure to accept Rohingya refugees from Burma. The government recently ordered Rohingya to be blocked from entering the country. Previously, over the last few years, Thailand was more receptive of these Burmese Moslem refugees. Then there was another outbreak of violence between Rohingya and Burmese in Burma last June, causing many more Rohingya to flee. Some 13,000 Rohingya fled Burma last year, up from 7,000 in 2011. Thailand is a favorite destination for refugees because of the booming economy. The Thais know this and deport any economic refugees they catch. While the business community likes the illegals for their willingness to work harder for less pay, most Thais oppose illegals for the same reason. The Rohingya have long been a special problem in both Burma and Thailand. The Burmese do not recognize the Ro...